BECKY SHER | Hype A perfect red, for the heart

If you've always sworn off red lipstick because you figured there was no way you could pull it off, now's the time to cast your inhibitions aside and give it a try. There's a new red in town. And not only is it sheer enough to actually be wearable (yes, by mere mortals), but it's also for a great cause. Plus, it's named after Shania Twain, whose unique sense of style is inspiring, even if you don't agree with every fashion choice she makes.
Proceeds from Benefit Cosmetics' Shania Red go to the American Heart Association. (Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of American women, so buying a $14 tube of lipstick seems like a small price to pay to help fight it.) The color is so nice, we suggest picking up a couple of them, just in case you never find such a great red again.
Shania Red is available exclusively at benefitcosmetics.com and Sephora through the end of the year.
Speak out
Adults want to know what you're thinking. Don't worry -- not about anything too personal, like your latest crush or your fight with your best friend. They want to know what you think about newspapers: when and if you read them, what kind of stories you follow, stuff like that.
It's part of a series of surveys by USA Weekend. In the past, they've asked about music, parents and the opposite sex, and this year, newspapers are the topic. Look for the survey in USA Weekend magazine during the first three weekends in October, or visit www.usaweekend.com to take the survey through Dec. 11. Not only will you be making your voice heard (results will be published in the mag next spring), but you'll be eligible for prizes such as a trip to Washington or a new laptop. All for telling a bunch of adults what you think. Can't beat that.
XBecky Sher writes Hype for Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. You can write to her at bsher@krtinfo.com.
Notable quotes
k"At times I'm really klutzy, and when I was younger, I was really klutzy. It embarrassed me a lot. Every time I was put on the spot or the attention was on me, I'd trip or something, just a nervous kind of reaction." -- Actress Eva Mendes ("Once Upon a Time in Mexico"), on E! Online.
"I know one 19-year-old kid who watched the show with his parents, and when he saw how positively they were reacting to us on the show, he felt comfortable enough to come out to his mom and dad. How amazing is that?" -- "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" star Carson Kressley, in The Hollywood Reporter.
"Girls should know that not everyone on TV is perfect, either, and we have our own issues, too." -- Actress Kaley Cuoco ("8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter"), on seventeen.com.